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BALTIMORE -- The dismissal of Ray Rice wasnt a distraction for the Baltimore Ravens. Ultimately, it served as inspiration. Playing a pivotal divisional game three days after the release of the star running back, Baltimore got a pair of touchdown passes from Joe Flacco and rolled past the rival Pittsburgh Steelers 26-6 on Thursday night. Rice was reaching the end of a two-game suspension for domestic violence when a video of him striking his then-fiancee surfaced Monday. By the end of the day, the three-time Pro Bowler had been cut by Baltimore and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. "We had a tough family situation this week," coach John Harbaugh said. "I thought our guys handled it tremendously -- with class, with character. They responded." Coming off a season-opening loss to AFC North foe Cincinnati, the Ravens (1-1) held Pittsburgh to two field goals and forced three turnovers. "We was all about getting the win. We wanted to kind of give that to Ray," rookie linebacker C.J. Mosley said. "We all wish the best for him. Even though he messed up, every man got to go through their mistakes to get better. We wish him the best, but as a team weve just got to keep moving forward." Bernard Pierce took over for Rice to gain 96 yards on 22 carries as part of a ground game that finished with 157 yards. Flacco went 21 for 29 for 166 yards and two TD throws to tight end Owen Daniels, and Justin Tucker kicked four field goals. Asked if he was curious how the team would fare after the tumultuous short work week, Baltimore defensive lineman Chris Canty shouted, "We werent curious at all. We knew how this was going to go. This was going to go one way, our way, tonight. No question about it." Pittsburgh (1-1) finished with only 22 fewer yards than Baltimore, but the turnovers made the difference. One Steelers miscue halted their opening drive, another set up a fourth-quarter field goal by Tucker, and an interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger with 1:51 remaining ended any hope. "Obviously, a disappointing effort for us," coach Mike Tomlin said. "A lot of the self-inflicted wounds are going to prevent you from being in a football game like that. We turned the ball over too often (and) were highly penalized. Those two things are a lethal combination." It was only the second time in the last 11 regular-season meetings between the teams that the outcome was decided by more than three points. Roethlisberger completed 22 of 37 passes for 217 yards. It was the first time since Nov. 26, 2006, that Baltimore held Pittsburgh without a touchdown. "We moved the ball; we just made a mistake here and there," Roethlisberger said. After Tucker kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 20-6 lead, Steelers tight end Heath Miller fumbled on a hit by Mosley, who took the loose ball to the Pittsburgh 20. That led to a 22-yarder by Tucker with 11:14 left. Although the Rice video and the reaction were the talk of Baltimore for much of the week, a few fans showed their loyalty to the banished running back by wearing his No. 27 jersey. But the crowd of 71,181 was quick to turn its attention to on-field action at the opening kickoff. Aided by a roughing the passer call against Courtney Upshaw on the third play of the game, Pittsburgh held the ball for more than eight minutes before Justin Brown fumbled and Baltimore recovered at its own 15. The Ravens then moved 85 yards in 12 plays with the help of two Pittsburgh penalties, the last a 23-yard pass interference call against Cortez Allen that set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Daniels. Pierce and Justin Forsett combined for 32 yards on Baltimores next series, which ended in a field goal for a 10-0 lead. Pittsburgh finally broke through with 2:50 left in the half, getting a field goal to end an 11-play, 73-yard drive. It was 10-6 before Flacco connected with Daniels on a 1-yard touchdown pass to cap an 80-yard drive highlighted by Flaccos 24-yard completion to tight end Dennis Pitta. Notes: Ravens CB Asa Jackson left with a concussion. ... Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown left briefly with a head injury but returned. Steelers NT Steve McLendon left with a shoulder injury. ... Ravens P Sam Koch set the franchise record by playing in his 130th consecutive game. Guillermo Heredia Jersey . -- The NFL Players Association wants to determine if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaked information about quarterback Josh Freeman being in the NFLs substance abuse program. Robinson Cano Jersey .com) - Jeff Teague had 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 90-85 on Saturday night. http://www.marinersrookiestore.com/Mariners-Felix-Hernandez-Kids-Jersey/ . a€“ All signs point to the Maple Leafs having their top offseason acquisition in the lineup on opening night. Ryon Healy Jersey . Smith, who raised eyebrows at the CFL combine in March with his ability on both sides of the ball, confirmed in a statement he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol prior to auditioning for league officials. Jay Buhner Jersey . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens.SOCHI, Russia -- Evgeni Plushenkos Olympics are over. His competitive career, too. The Russian star retired Thursday just after he withdrew from the mens event at the Sochi Olympics for medical reasons. The 31-year-old Plushenko is the only modern-era figure skater to win medals in four Olympics. He helped Russia win the team gold over the weekend. "I think its God saying, Evgeni, enough, enough with skating," said Plushenko, who originally was hurt in a training session Wednesday. "Age, its OK. But I have 12 surgeries. Id like to be healthy." In warmups before the short program, he fell on a triple axel and said it felt "like a knife in my back." He skated toward his coaches while bent over, then tried to loosen up by skating around the Iceberg rink some more. He then attempted another axel and botched it, shook his head and consulted with coach Alexei Mishin. When Plushenkos name was announced to the crowd seconds later -- to loud applause -- he skated to the event referee and withdrew. Before the latest injury, Plushenko said he planned to go out in style. "I said to myself, Evgeni, you must skate. Its two more days, short and long program," the 2006 Olympic gold medallist saaid.dddddddddddd He also won Olympic silver in 2002 and 2010. Before leaving the ice, he held up both hands to the crowd as if to say he was sorry, and took a small bow. He was Russias only man in the competition, so the host country will have no finisher in the event. Plushenko finished second at the Russian national championships and didnt appear headed for Sochi at all. He was added to the Russian roster late last month after a trial run-through in front of federation officials convinced them he was the countrys best mens option. That decision paid off when he finished second in the team short program and first in the free skate, helping Russia to its first gold of the Sochi Games. In that final full practice Wednesday, he fell three times, but was laughing and joking with Mishin after two of the flops. Mishin even said Plushenko was "ready" for the mens event. That changed Thursday, and when Plushenko limped out of the arena, the cheers turned to mild applause from the stunned audience. "Some people say we had this plan from the very beginning, but we did not," he said. "We were going to go to the end. If I really wished to withdraw after the tem event, I would have." ' ' '